Chapter 341: Not Bothering Is Best

However, thankfully, this sensation of being watched lasted only a brief moment, then was obscured by the reddish-grey flames and surrounding dust.

The grey-skinned man hesitated, then cautiously lowered his body, transforming into a small shark, no longer than an arm. The little shark swam through the murky water, escaping towards the back of the rift.

While other sprites frantically swam upwards, this little shark used their movement as a diversion to escape. This was because the water temperature at the bottom of the trench was rapidly rising, and ordinary aquatic creatures couldn't endure it for long.

The Samadhi True Fire was sometimes as cool as nothing, and at other times incredibly hot. Today, burning the flood dragon, it manifested in its yang form, unleashing a sweeping wave of heat.

After swimming neither fast nor slow for over ten miles within the great rift, the shark hugged the cliff face and ascended to the seabed above. It then swam outwards with the surrounding schools of fish, concealing its aura as much as possible throughout the process.

Looking back towards the trench, a little seabed dust was just beginning to stir upwards, and the firelight had already vanished. It was unclear whether the great fire had finally been extinguished by the seawater, or if the unfortunate Flower-Scaled Flood Dragon—who claimed to be the 'Flower Lord' and later 'Flower Dragon Lord'—had already been incinerated.

The shark dared not linger, shivering in the water before vigorously flicking its tail and accelerating slightly.

Deep within the trench, Ying Ruoli and the Dragon Mother watched with their own eyes as the Flower-Scaled Flood Dragon was consumed by the reddish-grey flames. The fire only began to subside when there was nothing left to burn.

Despite being deep within a trench beneath the seabed, surrounded by the intense pressure and frigid waters of the North Sea, the flames remained utterly unaffected.

Indeed, the surroundings were now filled with bubbles, caused by the rapid increase in water temperature forcing out dissolved gases and then boiling. In other words, the water deep within the trench was now hot enough to make fish soup.

General Giant Whale could barely maintain his position, finding it extremely uncomfortable to remain there. If he were an ordinary, un-cultivated whale, he would likely be three-quarters cooked by now.

The Dragon Mother unconsciously glanced at Ji Yuan a few more times. Since this person was such a close friend of 'that fellow', he was indeed no ordinary immortal cultivator. His fire-controlling abilities were simply astounding.

“Uncle Ji, was that your Samadhi True Fire technique just now?”

It was Ying Ruoli's first time witnessing Ji Yuan perform a divine fire-controlling spell, but she could instantly guess what it was.

Ji Yuan looked at Ying Ruoli, then shifted his gaze to the top of the rift.

“Did Gao Tianming tell you?”

“He mentioned it to my brother and me, and then my father also found out.”

Ji Yuan nodded.

“Yes, it is indeed the Samadhi True Fire. Once formed, this fire possesses considerable power. For a creature like this Flower-Scaled Flood Dragon, if it hadn't been injured, it might have been able to resist the True Fire with its own magic. But it was already wounded by a sword, and the pain destabilized its mind, causing it to be directly ignited by the True Fire.”

As he spoke, Ji Yuan extended his hand towards the lingering embers, which still held a wisp of residual fire, and with a sweep of his sleeve and a beckoning gesture, a dragon pearl flew out from them, still entwined with wisps of Samadhi True Fire.

It was precisely because of this dragon pearl that the True Fire had not yet extinguished.

A dragon pearl is considered a supreme treasure among dragons and flood dragons; indeed, those with insufficient cultivation might not even be able to form one. It is a fundamental element of their cultivation. Losing a dragon pearl represents an immense loss, equivalent to losing half one's life or nearly half one's cultivation.

Unexpectedly, this mottled-scaled flood dragon actually possessed a dragon pearl.

The Samadhi True Fire coiling around the dragon pearl automatically extinguished as it reached Ji Yuan's hand, leaving only an egg-sized pearl.

In the past, Ji Yuan always wielded the Samadhi True Fire with extreme caution, fearing he might spontaneously combust one day. Now, with his Five Qi perfected, he handled it with effortless ease, appearing even more skilled.

After the Samadhi True Fire disappeared, the dragon pearl began to emit light again, glowing outwards for about two feet.

Looking at the beautiful dragon pearl, Ji Yuan subconsciously remarked,

“This dragon pearl is pleasing to the eye, but it's not very big.”

Like its dragon master, the dragon pearl can change in size. However, this particular pearl was from the Flower Dragon after it had revealed its true form, so it was already at its largest. Although egg-sized appeared quite large from Ji Yuan's perspective, it seemed too small when compared to a flood dragon dozens of feet long. Conversely, the halo of light it emitted was just about right.

“Uncle Ji, this dragon pearl is quite large! I hadn’t expected this mixed-scaled flood dragon to possess one of this size.”

The Dragon Maiden said, glancing around.

“Oh, by the way, Uncle Ji, who was that mixed-scaled flood dragon entertaining earlier? It must be related to Mo Rong’s death. Why hasn’t he come out yet after so long?”

“He already ran away.”

Ji Yuan’s words surprised Ying Ruoli slightly. She had assumed that with Ji Yuan present, the person would certainly not escape, so she hadn't paid much attention to that detail earlier. However, she quickly realized something.

“Is Uncle Ji planning to see where he went?”

Ji Yuan put away the dragon pearl, then looked up at the top of the rift again, answering with a calm voice.

“Not exactly my intention. I had originally planned to deter him and then force him to comply.”

“Ah? Then why did…”

Ying Ruoli stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Ji Yuan shake his head slightly.

“Let's go. We'll return to Dragon Rock Island first.”

Watching the mixed-scaled flood dragon turn to ash, with no chance for its dragon soul to escape, the Dragon Mother felt a significant release of the frustration in her heart.

“Your subordinate obeys!”

General Giant Whale replied, then quickly flapped his massive body and swam upwards. This terrible place was now so hot that he couldn't stand it any longer. There were even some sprites nearby who hadn't escaped in time and were already cooked, but he dared not eat them now, fearing the boiling water would scald his mouth.

Upon returning to Dragon Rock Island, General Giant Whale was eager to announce the good news to everyone.

He roared loudly, “That evil mixed-scaled flood dragon has been eliminated by us! From now on, Dragon Rock Island will no longer have to suffer silently!”

The whale's roar echoed throughout Dragon Rock Island's Water Mansion, and the aquatic creatures within secretly celebrated.

Now, not only General Giant Whale and a few of the Dragon Mother's personal fish-maids, but many aquatic creatures on Dragon Rock Island had come to know how powerful the monarch mother's other in-laws were. All their previous anxieties were swept away.

Soon after, Dragon Rock Island began arranging a celebratory feast. It wasn't a grand banquet, nor were any outsiders invited; it was simply a celebration among the aquatic creatures of the Water Mansion.

The Dragon Mother and Dragon Maiden, meanwhile, were speaking together in a room, likely sharing their concerns and affections.

Ji Yuan, on the other hand, was alone in the hall, sampling the snacks of Dragon Rock Island, accompanied only by a few fish-maids and sprites. General Giant Whale had wanted to keep him company, but he was too large to fit inside, so he had gone out to forage.

Ji Yuan tasted each type of pastry, then only ate the ones that suited his taste.

After their initial nervousness, the fish-maids nearby could now converse with Ji Yuan.

“Mr. Ji, you came all the way from Cloud Continent? That’s so far; you must be tired, right?”

“It's not close, but General Giant Whale is probably the tired one; he carried us all the way here.”

“Oh.”

One fish-maid quickly refilled Ji Yuan’s conch shell cup with a drink.

“You and the Dragon Monarch are friends. Is he fierce?”

Ji Yuan considered for a moment before replying,

“Whether he’s fierce or not depends on the person and the situation. Normally, aside from having high standards, his temper is quite alright, I suppose.”

“Oh, then I’m relieved.” “Me too, me too!”

“Indeed, Miss Ruoli has such a good temper, and Mr. Ji has such a good temper, so the Dragon Monarch must have a good temper too.”

Just as they were about to ask something else, Ji Yuan stood up.

“If anyone asks later, just say I've stepped out for a moment and will be right back.”

With that, Ji Yuan stepped out as if treading on flowing water, passing directly out of the Water Mansion and ascending towards the sea surface.

Soon after, a wave broke on the sea surface near Dragon Rock Island, and Ji Yuan flew out from it, stepping onto the island as if walking on air.

“How was it?”

Ji Yuan asked this question abruptly.

A thin mist permeated the island, and soon a faint, illusory dragon shadow drifted out from it. The Old Dragon’s voice came, ethereal and real at once.

“I followed him for a long time. Observing his escape route, it appears unrelated to the true dragons of the North Sea. I have already planted Mirage Qi on him, which consumed most of the vital energy of this wisp of Mirage Dragon Shadow. It will dissipate soon.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan fixed his gaze on him.

“Then why did you call me here to meet you? Hurry down and see your wife!”

The Old Dragon looked at Ji Yuan without speaking. He likely would have lectured or even scolded his own sons or daughters if it weren’t Ji Yuan, but since it was Ji Yuan, the Old Dragon simply changed the subject.

“Mr. Ji, your Samadhi True Fire is indeed extraordinary. Sometimes I wonder how many more unknown methods you possess, how many heaven-reaching techniques that even contemporary immortal cultivators have never witnessed?”

Ji Yuan replied politely,

“The same could be said for your Mirage Form Grand Technique; it’s equally wondrous, and I didn't even notice it.”

“You really didn’t notice?”

The Old Dragon’s misty dragon shadow moved closer, scrutinizing Ji Yuan’s expression, only to see the latter offer a rare chuckle.

“I didn’t discover it, but I could guess it.”

The dragon shadow turned to face west, sighing.

“Mo Rong’s death indeed had something to do with the Black Barrens, though I didn't expect it to come from the North Sea rather than the vicinity of Da Zhen. Hmph, then the demons I killed back then essentially died in their stead.”

Ji Yuan said calmly,

“Few of them were innocent anyway.”

“That’s true!”

The dragon shadow looked at Ji Yuan again, bowing by clasping its two foreclaws together.

“Mr. Ji, I am indebted to you once more. Thank you for avenging Mo Rong. You need not concern yourself with what happens next.”

Ji Yuan returned the bow. The Old Dragon was someone who valued his reputation, so he naturally replied in a compliant manner.

“Very well, if that’s the case, I won’t interfere.”

Immediately after, the mist of the dragon shadow completely dissipated, and Ji Yuan didn't know if the Old Dragon's mirage form was truly gone or still present.

His gaze returned to the east. There were matters to attend to back on Cloud Continent too; hopefully, before the so-called Immortal Sojourn Assembly.